Charles miller



Jgne 2, 1931. c. MILLER ET AL 1,807,792

SHOE

Filed Nov. 19, 1930 INVENTOR '3 CHARLES M\LLEP- BY ARTHUR A LIVERS ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1931 CHARLES MILLER, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, AND ARTHUR A. LIVERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE

Application filed November 19, 1930. Serial No. 496,624.

This invention relates to the shoe art and deals more specifically with a ladys shoe, or slipper having a new and improved upper structure.

In the manufacture of high grade ladies shoes and slippers, hereinafter referred to generically as shoes, one of the outstanding marks which distinguish a well constructed shoe, is the character of its fit on the wearers foot at the instep and also at the rear and sides of the ankle. It is a requisite that the shoe conform snugly to the contour of the wearers foot, especially at these said portions without being so tight as to cut the wearers foot.

t is, of course, old in the art to provide a shoe of the type to which this invention relates, with a strap and buckle which permits the side and rear portions of the upper to be pulled tight against the foot. This structure has been found to be unsatisfactory.

for the reason that the tension of the strap, when it is pulled taut, is exerted only upon two points, to wit, those at which the strap is attached to the upper.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shoe having a strap in which the tension is distributed circumferentially about the foot at that portion where the strap embraces it.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shoe having a strap which yield ably tensions the upper to cause the same to conform to the wearers foot.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a shoe having a readily removable and replaceable strap.

And finally, it is an object of this invention to make a better constructed, better fitting shoe of enhanced appearance in a more economical and practical manner.

These and other ancillary objects of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modification; and

Fig. 3 is a fraginentary'sectional view taken on the line 33 of 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the shoe 10 is seen to comprise the usual outsole 11, heel 12 and vamp 13. The side portions of the counter 14 are provided with sti" receiving means such as a tunnel or loop 15 at the upper marginal edge thereof. As

illustrated the upper marginal edge of the r counter 1% is ree of the vamp. The tunnel 15 is of sulficient size to receive the strap 16 which passes therethrough and is freely slidable t ierein. A buckle 17 of any suitable type is joined to one end of the strap. An elastic insert or gore 18 is made in the strap 16 to permit the same to yield a certain amount when the strap is under tension. The

tunnel or loop 15 is formed between the upper tributed uniformly throughout the length of the tunnel. This causes the edge of the upper to conform properly to the wearers ankle. Also, in view of the presence of the elastic insert 1 thestrap yields sufficiently to give added comfort to the wearer, especially in walking, without detracting in the least from the appearance of the shoe. lVhile the elastic insert is desirable, it is not essential to the present invention and in accordance with a modification of the same, this insert may be dispensed with.

Referring now in detail to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is disclosed a modification, in which all parts which are similar to those of Fig. 1 have been given the same reference numerals. The description of these parts given in connection with Fig. 1 applies equally well to Fig. 2. The only essential structural differences between the modification of Fig. 1 and that of Fi 2 reside in the structure of the' strap and its relation to the shoe. The strap 116 is fixedly joined to the vamp 1.3. The buckle 17 when once adj usted to give the proper tension on the strap may be left in that adjustment. A slidable buckle 117 is provided to give a further adjustmeinli of the strap, for by moving the lNlClIr'C i piverdl the tension is increased, while moving this buckle downwardly decriases the tension. In order to put on or take oil the shoe, the elastic insert or gore l8 stretched to permit the passage oi the foot to or out of the shoe. it will be undercourse, that either the buckle 17 or he buckle 117, or hoth, may be omitted without (lGDZMFiRQ from the of this invention. rlso, tie ggore 18 may lJ-O omitted and one or l of the buckles may e used thus permitting the de ired edjustabilit in the length of the strap.

By \i since the strap 10 two or more diiierent pairs of straps for a given pair of shoes. Each pair of straps would then be ornamented either by color or by some attached adornment to match an ensemble t the choice of thx wearer. This in makes it to wear a single pair of shoes with several diff rent matched outfits.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

portions, a ramp portii' o ring a 01in iere )f and her: its upper portion free of said counter portion having at its edge strep-receiving means, and an ustable strap indepuident of the vamp portion and received in said strap-receiving means, whereby adjustment of said strap ensrns the upper portion of said counter ause this portion to conform to the heel 2. A lao s low shoe having heel and sole portions, vamp portion, a counter portion extending around the heel and forwardly thereof and having its upper portion free of the vamp, said counter portion having at its upper edge strap-receiving means, and an adjustable s rap independent of the vamp portion and received in said strap-receiving means, whereby adjustment of said strap tensions the upper portion o1 said counter to cause this portion to conform to the heel of the wearer, said strap-receiving means comprising a. down-turned portion of the upper.

ARTHUR A. LIVERS. CHARLES liLlILLER. 

